Windhoek, Namibia – Nedbank Namibia has made a significant contribution to the University of Namibia (UNAM)/AMT Mobile Planetarium, aimed at addressing educational inequities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Namibia.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), The bank’s donation of N.dollars 450,000, to be distributed over three years at N.dollars 150,000 annually, supports the UNAM/AMT Mobile Planetarium project. This project features an inflatable, interactive facility designed to bring astronomical education directly to students across Namibia, particularly in remote areas. The mobile planetarium offers a variety of programs tailored to different educational levels, from basic stargazing to exploring complex cosmic phenomena. Martha Murorua, Managing Director of Nedbank Namibia, explained to Nampa on Monday that this strategic investment aligns with the bank’s commitment to community development and enhancing access to STEM education. She emphasized the transformative power of education and the importance of uplifting the youth, who are key to the nation’s progress. The success of the planetarium project was evident during its pilot phase in 2019, when technical partners from the Africa Millimetre Telescope programme,
Radboud University, and the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy trained experts in Namibia. The project visited several schools in remote areas, such as Erongo and Nkurenkuru, demonstrating its impact and potential for further expansion.